28 December 2011: Homily of Bishop John Fleming at the Requiem Mass of his predecessor, Bishop Thomas Finnegan – Saint Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, Co Mayo Sixty years a priest, almost twenty five years a bishop, in his 87th year, cherished by his parents, supported by his brother Patsy, his sisters, Pauline and Maureen and their […]

Requiem Mass for Bishop Thomas Finnegan in Saint Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, Co Mayo, takes place today 28 December 2011 at 12:00 noon. Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, together with Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala, and bishops and priests from around the country will process with concelebrating bishops and […]

Bishop John Fleming has announced, with deep sadness, the death of Bishop Thomas Finnegan, former Bishop of Killala. Paying tribute to his predecessor, Bishop Fleming said: “For fifteen years, Bishop Finnegan guided the diocese of Killala with exceptional care, genuine wisdom and great love. He will be remembered for the many imaginative pastoral initiatives in the diocese which he began […]

“This is my hope and my prayer for Christmas 2011, that each of us will rediscover the simplicity, hope and joy of that first Christmas. I pray that Ireland as a country will become a gentler, kinder, more compassionate, more caring and more neighbourly place.” – Cardinal Brady

“Christmas, however, is a time of peace and hope. The Christ Child born for us atBethlehembrought us the promise of renewed friendship with our God. Again and again throughout his life, he will say to us: “Do not be afraid, I am with you.” If God is with us, we shall be safe.”

“I wish to thank, very especially, all those people of goodness and generosity who do succeed in being a “a light in the darkness” (Jn.1:5) of the sorrows and difficulties of our time. I wish each and all of you a happy and blessed Christmas, and peace and joy in the New Year.”

Our thoughts and sympathies this year at Christmastime are especially with those for whom this season brings a huge burden of worry on account of their economic situation. We are aware of and most grateful for the magnificent support which many households experience through the generous work of members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Benedict XVI says that divine justice and human justice are very different, since for humans, the two realities are distinguished, whereas for God, they coincide. The Pope said this on Sunday when he went to Rebbibia prison in the north of Rome.